Jingtong Old Trail Introduction
The Jing Tong Old Trail has been established for at least a century. It originated during the Qing Dynasty when residents from Shui Fan Jiao (present-day Xizhi) crossed the mountains, traversed the forests, and settled in Jing Tong Keng for farming. Residents frequently traveled between Pingxi and Xizhi, using shoulder poles to transport various goods, thus creating a mountain path. During the Japanese occupation, the extensive coal mining in Pingxi attracted a large population, and Pingxi became a mining hub. Although the Pingxi railway was built primarily for coal transport, the Jing Tong Old Trail remained an important transportation route to Xizhi. On the old trail, there is a giant rock featuring an upright ancient stone monument. Although the inscription is somewhat unclear, it can still be recognized as the "Memorial Stone of the Opening Road," erected during the Japanese occupation to commemorate the establishment of the Jing Tong Old Trail. This monument is an important historical site along the trail. After 1971, with the opening of roads connecting Pingxi to Muzha, Ruifang, and Xizhi, the old trail became deserted, leaving only hikers in search of exploration. The Jing Tong Old Trail begins at the East Mountain Valley trailhead on Xi Ping Road, passes through the Shihua Mountain area, crosses the highest point, Pan Shi Ridge, overlaps with Xi Ping Road, and then enters Pingxi District, passing by Rou Ban Ka, Niao Chao Qi, Yun Wu Gu, and Mo Shen Zi Cave before reaching Jing Tong Keng. The entire trail is divided into two sections: the Xizhi section, which begins at the East Mountain Road after crossing the Ren'ai Bridge, and the Pingxi section, clearly indicated across from the Tian Gong Temple at Pan Shi Ridge. The Xizhi section traverses fields and countryside with scattered farmhouses, while the Pingxi section is a challenging wilderness filled with dense forests.
